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El Pato refuses to 'duck' challenge
05/05/2006: Albicelestes goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri is hoping to put a recent poor run of form behind him when he lines up for Argentina in this season's World Cup finals in Germany.
The keeper was heavily criticised for his performance in Argentina's 3-2 defeat to fellow finalists Croatia.
"I finished last year very well but I don't know what happened after that," he told La Nacion.
"Everyone was watching me very closely and that made things difficult for me. But I think that after the friendly against Croatia, where a lot of things were said about me, I got it into my head that I had to be as relaxed as possible.
"In the last few games I've had the confidence that every goalkeeper needs to have and the results can be seen on the pitch."
Abbondanzieri has been a regular for Argentina for the past two years, but is aware of the public's view of him.
"I feel that I am good enough to be keeper for the national side," he added.
"I'll get to the World Cup at the perfect moment in every sense: in my private life, experience-wise, and the fact that my age is right for a goalkeeper playing at the World Cup."
The 33-year-old who is nicknamed The Duck (El Pato) plays for Argentine giants Boca Juniors, winning the Intercontinental Cup with them in 2003.
Roberto Abbondanzieri has represented his country on 19 occasions.
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